Please join me at the 2012 School Leadership Summit: Minnesota on the Move on Tuesday and Wednesday, August 7-8, at the Minneapolis Marriott Northwest (formerly the Northland Inn) in Brooklyn Park. (This has been known previously as the Annual Superintendents Back-to-School Conference.)

Superintendents and charter school directors are invited to bring their leadership teams. We have a great day and a half planned for you. Our keynote speaker is Tony Wagner, author of The Global Achievement Gap. As you know, Minnesota's demographics are shifting rapidly and we can no longer economically or morally accept leaving 40 percent of our students behind. Hopefully, together we can find the answers to improve achievement for all students, especially those who have historically underachieved. Register your team today!

Registration is available only online! Click Here to Register. (Check or credit card required.)
Click here for the agenda.

Final Referendum Cap Inflation Adjustment for FY 2012

Please see the memorandum from Tom Melcher, director of Program Finance, regarding the above-mentioned matter. The memo explains the final calculation of the operating referendum cap inflation adjustment which is available on the department website.

Please see the memorandum from Tom Melcher, director of Program Finance, regarding the above-mentioned matter. The memo explains the updated estimate of the referendum cap inflation adjustment which is available on the department website.

As part of Protection of Pupil Rights Amendment (PPRA) (20 U.S.C. § 1232h; 34 CFR Part 98), all LEAs must provide parents and students notification of the Minnesota Student Survey administration in their district. As part of this notification, parents must be allowed to review the survey and be given the opportunity to elect not to allow their child to participate in the survey (passive consent). Notification of your District’s planned participation in the 2013 survey administration must be a part of your districts fall mailing and/or parent notification packet for the 2012-13 school year. This notification must information parents of their rights to review the survey and to request that their child does not participate.

A copy of the 2013 Survey instrument and additional information about both the Minnesota Student Survey and the PPRA parental notification will be provided to districts in August 2012. If you have questions about the upcoming survey administration, please contact MDE staff person Deb Loy at deb.loy@state.mn.us or 651-582-8306.

MISCELLANEOUS

Please Provide New Superintendent Contact Information

We’d like to make sure new superintendents and charter school directors are added to our listserv for receiving the MDE Weekly Supt. Mail and any special e-mail notices requiring immediate attention. If you know of a superintendent or charter school director who is not receiving these e-mails, please forward this information to them. Superintendents can send their name and e-mail address to Cindy Heitman, MDE Communications Office, at cynthia.heitman@state.mn.us or 651-582-1598. Thank you!

Minnesota Board of Teaching Licensure Actions

The Minnesota Board of Teaching has taken the following licensure actions:

Featured News

Meet the 2015 Science Mathematics Principal

John Garcia, principal of Cedar Park Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) School in Apple Valley, has been named the 2015 Science and Mathematics Elementary and Middle Level Principal of the Year. Created through a partnership between the Science Museum of Minnesota and the Minnesota Elementary School Principals’ Association (MESPA), the award recognizes the importance of fostering lifelong science literacy and the key role principals play in developing a culture that encourages student interest in math and science.